‘Vaccine pass’ required in Category D restaurants starting today

by The SUN

 

Under the new scheme, four diners can sit together if they have at least one vaccine dose

The government’s vaccine pass scheme kicks off today, Feb. 10, when certain restaurants or catering premises will have to ask diners to show their vaccination record to be able to seat four to a table. 

This is despite the concurrent implementation of tightened social distancing rules that allow a maximum of two people to gather in public places.

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Under the Type D mode of operation restaurants can allow four diners to sit together if they have all received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and are able to show proof of this.

In addition, staff who serve them must have also received at least a dose of a vaccine, or have a Covid-19 medical exemption certificate. 

Restaurants that fall under the Type D mode could accept customers to its full capacity, but banquets are still not allowed.

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For now, vaccination proof is still not required of those who eat in restaurants operating under Types B and C mode of operation.

However, customers in such restaurants can only sit two to a table. Type B eateries can only accept up to 50% of their capacity, and Type C, 75%.

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When the vaccine pass scheme takes effect on Feb. 24, all customers will have to show proof of vaccination before being allowed to dine in. Staff, too, will have to get vaccinated, unless exempted for medical reasons.

In a statement, the Food and Health Bureau said it was issuing a strong appeal to operators of catering premises under the Type B and Type C modes of operation “to make necessary arrangement for their staff to vaccinate as soon as possible, so the business can meet the requirements and continue to operate when ‘vaccine pass’ comes into effect on Feb. 24.”

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The FEHD also reminded restaurants that the dine-in ban after 6pm has been extended until Feb. 23. This means that they still cannot sell food or drinks for consumption in their premises from 6pm to 4:59am on the next day. However, they may still sell or supply food or drinks for takeaway or deliveries.

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Restaurants are also required to seal off sections where food or drinks consumed in their premises is sold. Further, they should set up notices that people who buy food or drinks from them cannot consume them in adjacent premises.

Under the current restrictions no live performances, dancing, singing or mahjong playing will be allowed inside catering venues.

Live performances including dancing are still not allowed inside catering premises

Other restrictions will remain in force, including (1) diners must not eat or drink or take off their masks when away from their tables; (2) all customers must use the LeaveHomeSafe app using their mobile phones before entering for dine-in; (3) tables should be placed at least 15 meters apart or have some form of partition to separate them; (4) body temperature screening should be done before entry; and (5) hand sanitizers should be provided to customers.

Under the extended social distancing measures, other places of entertainment like bars, karaokes, night clubs, massage parlours and swimming pools must remain closed.

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Updated versions of the LeaveHomeSafe app for customers for easy display of vaccination QR codes and the QR Code Verification Scanner for operators of the business establishments are now available, and everyone is enjoined to use them.

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PCG starts partial work-from-home amid Covid-19 surge

By The SUN

PCG staff now report for work on alternate days but the office hours are as before (File)

The Philippine Consulate General has shifted to work-from-home arrangement for some of its staff in response to a call from the Hong Kong government for offices to help reduce the number of people on the streets and stop the surge in coronavirus cases.

“We have shifted to work from home as an alternative mode starting (Tuesday),” said Consul General Raly Tejada. “We now have two teams alternately reporting for work.”

But, he quickly added that the office hours of the Consulate remain the same.

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During the third wave of infection in early July to August 2020, the Consulate also allowed its staff to work from home on alternate days, and also shortened its work hours.

Since Feb 4, Hong Kong government staff, save for those providing essential services, have been told to work from home for a week amid fears of mass outbreak of infections after the Lunar New Year holidays.

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With the cases continuing to mount, it is likely that the arrangement which is due to end Friday, will be extended for at least another week.

In announcing the new work arrangement, the Civil Service Bureau appealed to employers in the private sector to also allow their staff to work from home to minimize social contacts among them and reduce pedestrian traffic.

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Congen Tejada also allayed fears that unvaccinated people will no longer be allowed to enter the Consulate starting on Feb 24 when the vaccine pass scheme is due to take effect.

“We will not discriminate,” he said. “Pagsisilbihan po natin ang lahat ng Filipino.” (We will serve all Filipinos.

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The fear appears to stem from the government’s statement that private premises where many people gather like malls, supermarkets, department stores, churches and even beauty salons, will soon be requiring people to show proof of vaccination before being allowed entry.

United Centre building where the Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office are located, is partly commercial, so it could technically fall under the mall category.

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But in explaining the new regulation, the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan said there will be no one checking for vaccination proof of everyone entering the scheduled or restricted premises. Instead, random checks will be conducted to ensure people inside the premises had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

But he also said offices (like the Consulate) are exempted from the vaccine and social distancing regulations.

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HK posts record-high 1,161 Covid-19 cases with 2 new deaths

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The government aims to test 300k people daily amid HK's worst Covid-19 outbreak

Even with the strictest pandemic protocols in place, Covid-19 cases have continued to surge in Hong Kong, with the number of cases breaching the 1,000 mark for the first time today, Feb 9.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said at the daily news briefing that a total of 1,161 confirmed cases were recorded as of midnight last night. Another 800 have been reported as preliminary positive.

All but eight of the new cases were locally acquired, and as in the past few days, most could not be immediately linked to a previous infection.

For the first time in about half a year, two new deaths were also reported.

Dr Larry Lee, a chief manager of the Hospital Authority, said two elderly male patients passed away at Caritas Medical Hospital early this morning, taking the death toll to 215.

One was a 73-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital “in dire condition” and died at 4:45am. He had two doses of Sinovac vaccine.

The other fatality was a 76-year-old man with pulmonary diseases who also passed on early this morning. He was unvaccinated.

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Of the 1,990 patients still receiving treatment in public hospitals, two are now in critical condition, an 80-year-old man who is not vaccinated and a 57-year-old who received vaccination.

Three are in serious condition. Two of them, both males aged 50 and 56, each had a dose of a Covid vaccine. The third is a 77-year-old woman who is unvaccinated.

Lee again urged everyone, especially the elderly, to get vaccinated, saying that most of those suffering from severe symptoms now were either not fully jabbed, or had not been vaccinated at all.

Isolation wards and beds at public hospitals are near to capacity 

He also disclosed that 90% of all isolation beds and wards in public hospitals are now fully occupied while about 200 patients with little or no symptoms have been moved to the isolation facility at Penny’s Bay.

Meanwhile, 606 people identified as close contacts or second-level contacts are now under home quarantine for either 14 or four days.

Lee said that because hospitals are nearing full capacity, a new protocol for discharging patients will be implemented.

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Patients who have no symptoms need not wait anymore for 10 days to be discharged. They will be allowed to go home and continue their medical surveillance there for 14 days.

Those who experience mild symptoms and have not been tested are being urged not to go to hospitals, but to a private clinic or hospital. “If you test positive, ask a relative or a courier to submit a sample for confirmatory test,” he said.

If the second test also yields a positive result, Lee said the patient has to stay at home and wait to be booked in a hospital.

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“Some patients may need to wait for a few days to be sent to a hospital,” he said, adding that a hotline will be provided for those with urgent concerns.

Lee disclosed plans to set up more community isolation facilities like the one in Penny’s Bay for patients with mild or no symptoms, and reserve hospital spaces for those with more severe symptoms.

He also called on retired health workers to step up and help the Hospital Authority cope with the worsening situation, and for those with health experience to help man the hotline for patients.

Asked about the 79 hospital staff who were stricken by the virus recently, Lee said they were infected in the community and not at the workplace. While admitting that their infection has brought more hardship, hospitals are determined to continue providing care to those who need it.

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·         Chuang said there are about 1,400 cases still deemed as untraceable, and 500 of them were from yesterday’s confirmed cases. The cases were mostly detected in Sham Shui Po, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong and Shatin – places where previous outbreaks had been recorded.

Thus, she said experts believe that these untraceable cases within the same area had some from the same source, although a direct link to one particular case has yet to be established.

·         She said many of the cases were still from big family gatherings held over Chinese New Year. Many of those infected are homemakers, elderly people and retirees who do not usually go out much except to go the market or have an occasional meal out.

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Asked about the mass testing ordered for Discovery Bay residents, Chuang said she did not have details of the waste water there testing positive for the coronavirus. But she did say a number of cases had been detected among several people working as cleaners, customer service and concierge staff at Discovery Bay Plaza.

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Court throws out employer’s theft accusation vs Filipina helper

 

The Filipina was cleared of the theft charge at Kowloon City Courts

A Filipina who was accused by her former employer of stealing items ranging in value from two notebook computers to a hair clip, was cleared of theft charges today at the Kowloon City Courts.

Liezel S. Yape, 39, from Dumaguete City, burst into tears as she listened to an interpreter translate to Cebuano the verdict being read in English by Magistrate Chung Wing-sze. She then hugged barrister Belinda Ma, who defended her in the case.

Yape’s ordeal began when her employer, Alice Li, 72, accused her of stealing several items from the house on June 28 last year.

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According to the magistrate’s recounting of facts, Li and Yape had just returned to the employer's house in Tsim Sha Tsui after its renovation. They had to stay in a hotel previously. 

Yape was unpacking household items – contained in 60 boxes labelled in Chinese -- under her employer’s supervision when Li asked about a number of items that she felt were missing. When Yape could not tell her where the items were, Li accused her of stealing them and called the police.

Officers searched Yape’s sleeping area, and found three items containing her belongings -- a luggage, a rucksack and a handbag. In the luggage was a tablet computer which Yape said Li had given to her and which Li said she stole. Yape was arrested but released two days later, after posting bail of $2,500.

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Yape  and a cousin later went back to Li’s house and asked for her passport and personal belongings that were left behind when she was arrested, but the employer refused to let them in. She said she needed police permission to release Yape’s belongings. So the two asked for police help, and two officers arrived.

When Li showed police the three items that Yape was claiming, they were found to contain the tablet computer, two notebook computers, an external hard drive, a cable, a baking thermometer, measuring spoons, an alarm clock, sandals, earrings, a box of hand sanitizers, a pair of sunglasses – even a hair clip which Li claimed to be hers. 

These and Yape's three bags were held as evidence for the court case.

As holding someone else’s passport was a crime, Li was persuaded by police to return Yape’s passport.

In court, Li testified as prosecution witness along with two policemen. Yape did not.

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In her decision, Magistrate Chung described Li’s testimony as “incredible” and “may not have been truthful.” She also noted that Li’s answers were indirect and unsure in some instances.

For example, she said that when police first inspected Yape’s three bags, they found only her belongings inside. The second time these were inspected, they contained the things which Li claimed were stolen by Yape. 

During the period between the two police inspections, Yape was not able to enter Li’s house and could not have touched her bags, Magistrate Chung noted.

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As to the tablet computer which Li accused Yape of stealing, Magistrate Chung said Yape unlocked it with her own password, which indicated that she had openly used it in Li’s presence before and therefore could not have been stolen.

She noted that Li also stored some of her own belongings in Yape’s sleeping quarters, which was an open area.

Magistrate Chung also noted that Li had hired and fired four domestic helpers before Yape in the previous three years.

After acquitting her, Magistrate Chung ordered Yape's belongings returned to her.

With the case behind her, Yape said she was anxious to have her visa extended at Immigration so she could find another employer and be able to resume remittances to her two children, and to the Consulate for advice on what to do next. 

One possible next step: go to the Labour Department and claim for benefits she is entitled to, against her employer.

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HK posts a new record-high 625 Covid cases

By The SUN 

HK will implement the strictest gathering restrictions ever starting this Thursday

Hong Kong has logged 625 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 614 cases posted only a day earlier.

Of the new cases, four were imported, while the rest were locally acquired, and judging from the recent trend, most were untraceable.

Speaking at today’s daily press briefing on the coronavirus situation, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said that from yesterday’s record number of cases, about 450 were untraceable.

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She also said there were around 500 preliminary positive cases, indicating the Omicron-fueled spread of the coronavirus has yet to ease.

Chuang said many of today’s cases came from recent large-scale gatherings. At least 19 big clusters of more than 10 people were said to have led to a number of people getting infected. In at least one such case, 47 people tested positive.

“I am not even talking of small groups of less than 10 people,” Chuang said.

The surge from these gatherings led to the Executive Council to approve today a proposal from the government to ban cross-family mingling of more than two households starting on Thursday.

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Chuang said that of the 621 local cases, 15 carried the Delta variant, while the rest have Omicron.

Dr Larry Lee from the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, 1,853 Covid-19 patients were receiving treatment at various infection control centers and public hospitals.

One unvaccinated 84-year-old man is in critical condition while a 77-year-old woman who was previously listed as critical, is now in serious condition. Both are unavaccinated. Another patient, who is vaccinated, is also in serious condition.

The rest are all in stable condition.

People must use the LeaveHomeSafe app in most venues starting Feb 24

Lee said that while Omicron patients usually have only mild or no symptoms at all, others, especially the unvaccinated, can get very sick, so people should not be complacent.

Those who have yet to be vaccinated must do so immediately.

Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam said that a total of 2,600 were reported in the past two weeks, and 898 of them, or 34.5%, were unlinked.

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Most of the cases (85%) carried the Omicron variant while 5.8% were Delta cases. A big chunk of the cases, or 80%, had a Ct value of 30, indicating they were highly infectious.

Lam said that starting this afternoon, the Stay Home Safe Program, under which close contacts or contacts of close contacts are allowed to isolate at home for either four or 14 days, depending on their proximity to an infected person, has begun.

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As of noon today, 38 persons have been allowed to stay home and conduct self-monitoring by using the rapid antigen tests and checking their temperature daily.

But they must wear a wristband tracking device and should not have any contact with people outside of their homes. All deliveries to them from relatives and other individuals must be left at their doorsteps.

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HK stops cross-family gatherings as part of new pandemic restrictions

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CE Lam says the time has come for HK to enforce tougher measures

Hong Kong has banned the private gatherings of more than two families as part of tough new measures aimed at stopping the surge in coronavirus infections within the city, which today experienced its second straight day of more than 600 new Covid-19 cases.

Under the tightened social distancing measures that take effect from Thursday, Feb. 10, gatherings in public places will also be capped again at two people, from the current four.

These were among the new anti-pandemic restrictions announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam after attending the Executive Council session today, Feb. 8, during which other tough new  measures were approved.

Under the vaccine bubble slated to start on Feb 24, only those with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine can enter churches, shopping malls, supermarkets and markets, department stores as well as hair salons.

These were the venues added to the previous list of regulated premises in an amendment passed by Exco during its meeting.

Only those with at least one dose of a vaccine may enter malls from Feb 24

The use of the vaccine pass was originally meant to extend only to premises previously listed under Cap 599(F), including restaurants, bars, cinemas, swimming pools, cruise ships and other places of entertainment.

However, the plan to include public transportation in the list was dropped, apparently because of enforcement difficulties.

According to CE Lam, the use of the vaccine pass will be introduced sooner than Feb 24 in some venues, like restaurants, but did not give specifics.

The CE also said the penalty for failing to comply with compulsory testing notice will double, from $5,000 to $10,000.

She also mentioned some proposed amendments to the Labour Ordinance which the Executive Council has yet to endorse, like the firing of an employee who refuses to be vaccinated will not be regarded as unreasonable dismissal.

On the other hand, an employer may not dismiss an employee who is unable to report for work because of the need to comply with a compulsory testing notice, and should allow a worker who is under a lockdown order to file for sick leave.

Asked about the possible violation of privacy laws when requiring people to submit their vaccination records, the CE said: “I hope you realize that the time has come for the Hong Kong government to enforce new measures.”

She said other countries which pride themselves as defenders of human rights have been doing the same thing for a long time.

No door-to-door inspection of houses to enforce the cross-family ban, but..

Speaking at a later press briefing, Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan said the ban on cross-family gatherings may be relaxed a bit to allow a caregiver from a third household to make regular visits to an elderly person.

Chan also said there will be no surprise visits to any households for the purpose of enforcing the regulation. However, if a violation of this rule is detected when investigating a confirmed case, those responsible may be penalized or prosecuted.

“There will be no door-to-door enforcement, but if there were cases which show that people are flouting the rules, if we pick up those cases in contravention of Cap 599, enforcement action will be taken,” he said.

The same rule will apply for those required to present their vaccination certificate.

Chan said that in restaurants, there will be an active type of vaccine pass inspection where the customer will have to scan the LeaveHomeSafe app and produce their vaccination record.

But in venues where there is large foot traffic such as in malls and supermarkets, there will be passive enforcement, meaning people will only have to scan the LHS app before entering. However, enforcers will do random checks of vaccination records to ensure compliance.

It's back to 2-together when in public places

He said the law defines private premises as those which are not readily accessible to the public on a regular basis, like workplaces. He said the gathering of people for work purposes is exempted from the rules on social distancing.

The introduction of the vaccine pass rule will be enforced in phases. In the first phase, all residents aged 12 years and above (unless exempt for medical reasons) shall have at least one dose of a vaccine to enter regulated premises.

The second phase which will take effect at the end of April will require all those aged 18 and above to show proof of a second vaccination. Those aged 12-17 will be required to show they have taken the second dose if their first jab was given at least six months earlier.

For the third phase which takes effect at the end of June those aged 18 and above must show proof of a booster shot if they had taken their second dose at least six months earlier. Younger visitors will not be required to show a booster record as they have a 12-month waiting period between jabs.